During the early nineties a plethora of creativity emerged in Chester. Fly posters were everywhere. The authorities were not able to keep up with removing them from the walls of disused buildings or roadsigns. Band members many unemployed, would skulk around late at night promoting their gigs on posters photocopied on Job centre and 'Employment Training' facilities.
The staff turned a blind eye, as long as the job seekers didn't report to the press about the inefficiency of the training courses or smoke weed at 'work' then anything goes. Many young staff members were becoming fans as they frequented local nightspots too.
The local music scene became more of a co-operative more than anything, employed band members would forward their earnings to pay for equipment, transport etc. the unemployed promote by fly posting taking the risk of prosecution, the students provide gigs and fans. Musicians would play in each others bands or take turns supporting or headlining gigs.
The bands around at the time drew their influences from all sources, indie had broken through nationally, which allowed experiment in both music and lyrics. Avaunt Gard, Blues, Folk, world and New Age music, added to the diversity. Didgeridoos, African drums, accordions, all manner of cultural experimentation was used as well as the standard blues and indie rock. The influences had come from an interest in world culture, environmental issues, so anything fringe was cool. Bands such as The World Upside fronted by Dave Greenauld were popular. A hard edge indie funk band called Primitive Faith grew a large audience. There were many blues acts like Bloodshot Rolling Red, local guys who were the source of entertainment that kept the pubs and wine bars alive. Weaveworld were a band using dance music combined with New Age instruments like didgeridoos. In amongst this there were a load of indie type rock bands who were started by mainly unemployed band members who had not had formal music learning skills but put together good creative lively groups.
Fly posters appeared everywhere for bands like BubbleFish, The Fourth Egg, Jupiter Moonpig, Smear, Fractal Dive, Biscuit and Sandstone Candy. These bands were perhaps more underground as they played in lesser venues and church halls. They attracted a good following. It was a lively time, plenty of sex, drugs and rock and roll. which went hand in hand with the music. It was a scene that had to cope with a dire economic downturn in British society. There could only be today as the Future was too dark.
The staff turned a blind eye, as long as the job seekers didn't report to the press about the inefficiency of the training courses or smoke weed at 'work' then anything goes. Many young staff members were becoming fans as they frequented local nightspots too.
The local music scene became more of a co-operative more than anything, employed band members would forward their earnings to pay for equipment, transport etc. the unemployed promote by fly posting taking the risk of prosecution, the students provide gigs and fans. Musicians would play in each others bands or take turns supporting or headlining gigs.
The bands around at the time drew their influences from all sources, indie had broken through nationally, which allowed experiment in both music and lyrics. Avaunt Gard, Blues, Folk, world and New Age music, added to the diversity. Didgeridoos, African drums, accordions, all manner of cultural experimentation was used as well as the standard blues and indie rock. The influences had come from an interest in world culture, environmental issues, so anything fringe was cool. Bands such as The World Upside fronted by Dave Greenauld were popular. A hard edge indie funk band called Primitive Faith grew a large audience. There were many blues acts like Bloodshot Rolling Red, local guys who were the source of entertainment that kept the pubs and wine bars alive. Weaveworld were a band using dance music combined with New Age instruments like didgeridoos. In amongst this there were a load of indie type rock bands who were started by mainly unemployed band members who had not had formal music learning skills but put together good creative lively groups.
Fly posters appeared everywhere for bands like BubbleFish, The Fourth Egg, Jupiter Moonpig, Smear, Fractal Dive, Biscuit and Sandstone Candy. These bands were perhaps more underground as they played in lesser venues and church halls. They attracted a good following. It was a lively time, plenty of sex, drugs and rock and roll. which went hand in hand with the music. It was a scene that had to cope with a dire economic downturn in British society. There could only be today as the Future was too dark.
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